What is Romanticism? How has Romanticism affected Christianity?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Romanticism emerged in the late 1700s and early 1800s as a cultural reaction to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Whereas Enlightenment thinkers emphasized logic, analysis, and scientific certainty, the Romantics elevated emotion, imagination, personal experience, and the beauty of the natural world.

Scripture presents the gamut of human emotions, showing that we’re not just rational creatures. For instance, the Psalms are filled with emotions ranging from despair (Psalm 13) to anger (Psalm 7) to joy (Psalm 16:11, 32:11, 37: 4, 100) and more. Jesus mourned Lazarus even though He knew He would raise him very soon (John 11:35). Paul encourages believers to rejoice and mourn as fitting to the circumstance (Romans 12:15).

But the Bible also teaches that using human emotions as a spiritual authority is dangerous because all human beings are sinful (Genesis 6:9) with deceitful hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). For this reason, the Bible calls believers to trust the Lord (Proverbs 3:5–6), which we do by using His word, not our emotions, to guide us (2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 1:22). Against a background of logic and scientific inquiry, Romanticism was a reminder that emotions have value. However, Romanticism’s error was making them, not Scripture, the foundation of truth.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Scripture never portrays human beings as merely rational. The Psalms are filled with emotional language (e.g., Psalms 7, 13, 100), and Israel’s worship was meant to engage the whole person. Psalm 16:11 describes the fullness of joy found in God’s presence. Psalm 37:4 calls God’s people to “delight yourself in the LORD,” and Psalm 32:11 urges the righteous to “be glad in the LORD, and rejoice.” These passages show that faith is not purely cold and mechanical. God intends His people to experience real joy as they trust Him and walk in His ways.
• But Romanticism erred by treating human feelings as trustworthy guides in themselves. Scripture gives a much more sober picture of the human heart. Genesis 6:5 shows that human thoughts are often bent toward evil, and Jeremiah would later state, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Even sincere emotions are influenced by sin.
• Because the heart is unreliable, all emotions must be tested by God’s Word. Proverbs 3:5–6 teaches, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Instead of blindly following personal impulses, believers are to submit their ways to God and allow His revealed Word to determine what is right and good. Scripture teaches that emotions must be filtered through Scripture.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• “Jesus wept” over the death of Lazarus (John 11:35), and Paul encouraged believers to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Believers aren’t to refrain from expressing our emotions.
• But God’s Word, not our emotions, should be our spiritual guide (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The old Star Trek series capitalized on the contrast between the uber-logical Spock and the rest of the crew who had normal human emotions. The contrast was funny because the audience recognized how strange it would be to allow reason and logic to drown out the natural emotions. The Romanticism movement realized this, too, and that realization shaped literature, art, and even religious life by encouraging people to look inward for meaning and to treat feelings as an authentic path to truth.

This shift also affected Christianity by putting a stronger focus on emotional experience. And this makes sense when we consider that the Bible invites believers to really enjoy God. He is not simply a list of propositions (holy, just, eternal, etc.) but is the living God who desires us to have a heartfelt relationship with Him. Indeed, Scripture shows again and again that delighting in the Lord is part of healthy faith.

But the way you love God must be grounded in how He teaches us to worship and love Him. That is, your emotional love for God must be defined by Scripture’s truth about who He is. We should never allow how we “feel” to overrule what God has told us through His word.

The Psalms present us with some great examples. The authors rejoice, cry, and hope. But in each case, they did so with their eyes fixed on the Lord. So, their emotions remained anchored in God, keeping them from spinning out of control. Allow their examples to help guide your emotions in ways that honor God. Since even our emotions reflect our sinful nature, they are unreliable guides to truth. But the more you align your feelings with what God has said, the more you will experience true and pure joy.

UNDERSTAND

• Romanticism arose in the late 1700s as a reaction against Enlightenment rationalism.
• Romanticism elevated emotion, imagination, and personal experience as primary sources of meaning.
• The Bible affirms that emotions are part of genuine faith, but it also warns that the human heart is sinful and unreliable as a guide to truth.

REFLECT

• How do your emotions influence the way you interpret God’s Word and make spiritual decisions?
• Where are you most tempted to trust what feels right over what God’s Word clearly says?
• How do you seek to cultivate heartfelt love for God while keeping your emotions anchored in biblical truth?

ENGAGE

• In what ways has modern Christianity been influenced by Romanticism’s emphasis on personal experience?
• How can we encourage authentic emotional expression without allowing feelings to define truth?
• What practical habits help believers ensure their emotions are shaped and corrected by Scripture rather than culture?